Disciplinary hearing questions

Eric Tucker and Mary Clare Jalonick Associated Press Published 12:44 p.m. UTC Jul 13, 2018 Washington – An embattled FBI agent whose anti-Trump text messages exposed the Justice Department to claims of institutional bias vigorously defended himself Thursday at an extraordinary congressional hearing that devolved into shouting matches, finger-pointing and veiled references to personal transgressions. Peter Strzok testified publicly for the first time since being removed from special counsel Robert Mueller’s team following the discovery of texts last year that were traded with an FBI lawyer in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election. In a chaotic hearing that spanned 10 hours, he insisted he never allowed personal opinions to affect his work, though he did acknowledge being dismayed by Donald Trump’s behavior during the campaign. He also said he had never contemplated leaking damaging information he knew about the Trump campaign and called the hearing … [Read more...] about FBI agent clashes with GOP at hearing on Russia probe

Eric Tucker and Mary Clare Jalonick Associated Press Published 11:18 p.m. UTC Jul 12, 2018 Washington – An embattled FBI agent whose anti-Trump text messages exposed the Justice Department to claims of institutional bias launched a vigorous defense Thursday at an extraordinary congressional hearing that devolved into shouting matches, finger pointing and veiled references to personal transgressions. Peter Strzok testified publicly for the first time since being removed from special counsel Robert Mueller’s team following the discovery of the texts last year. He said the communications with an FBI lawyer in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election reflected purely personal opinions that he never once acted on, though he did acknowledge being dismayed during the campaign by the Republican candidate’s behavior. “At no time, in any of those texts, did those personal beliefs ever enter into the realm of any action I took,” Strzok told lawmakers. In … [Read more...] about Livid FBI agent clashes with GOP at hearing on Russia probe

There is no shortage of current national security concerns – related to Iran, North Korea, Russia, China and other non-state actors -- about which senators will want to question Gina Haspel. But in the run-up to her confirmation hearing to be CIA director, there's been an escalating debate about her involvement in the CIA's use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" -- considered torture by many -- in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Senators questioning her Wednesday are going to want to know how much she knew, how involved she was, and how much she supported the program. Haspel has also faced intense scrutiny for her role in helping order the destruction of dozens of videotapes documenting the interrogations years after they had concluded. Here are eight questions senators on the Intelligence Committee are likely to raise on those topics during her confirmation hearing: 1. What level of involvement did she have in the implementation of "enhanced … [Read more...] about 8 questions for CIA Director nominee Gina Haspel